The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, will announce their appointment of a person to fill a vacancy position for the Cass County Attorney’s Office. Earlier this week, the Board interviewed four candidates who had submitted their applications by the deadline: Robert Engler (With the Cambridge Law Firm, in Atlantic); Anne Rohling, a lawyer from Council Bluffs who owns her own law firm; Marti Sleister, an experienced trial attorney in criminal and juvenile law, with the Sleister Law firm in Fremont, NE; and Vanessa Strazdas, a lawyer from Omaha.

On Wednesday (Jan. 30th), the Supervisors discussed the four applicants.  During their meeting, it was noted that all four were well qualified.  One applicant is a current county resident and the other three noted they would be able to establish residence by date of appointment, therefore the board determined that all were eligible for appointment.  After due consideration, the board reached a decision on whom they would choose to appoint. That individual was reached by phone and offered the position. They immediately accepted the offer.

The person appointed during the Board’s meeting at 9-a.m., Friday, will immediately succeed Michael Hooper, who Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Jan/ 11th appointed as a judge in the Fourth Judicial District. Following the appointment of the new County Attorney, the Board will act on a Resolution to approve the number of, and appointment of Administrative Assistants to the Cass County Attorney.

They will also act to fill the vacancy term of a Cass Township Trustee (an appointed position).

The body of a University of Iowa student has been found on the campus in Iowa City, and officials say they believe his death was weather-related.

Television station KCRG reports that the body of 18-year-old Gerald Belz was found behind an academic hall just before 3 a.m. Wednesday by campus police. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. While officials believe his death was related to dangerously low temperatures at the time he was found, officials have not given a specific cause of death.

Belz’s family told KCRG that doctors did not find alcohol in his system.

The National Weather Service says the wind chill around 3 a.m. was negative 51 degrees (negative 46 Celsius).

The death is the eighth fatality linked to the extremely cold weather in the Midwest.

JAMAICA, Iowa (AP) — The Guthrie County town of Jamaica is set to appoint a new mayor after its previous mayor was arrested earlier this month on charges related to marijuana found growing in her basement. Acting mayor Tim McDermott tells the Des Moines Register that city leaders are expected to appoint a new mayor Monday. McDermott says former mayor LaDonna Kennedy submitted her resignation last week.

Kennedy and her husband, 58-year-old Randy Kennedy, were arrested Jan. 16 on various drug charges after Guthrie County Sheriff’s deputies searching for a suspect in a separate crime knocked on their door. The suspect wasn’t found, but deputies called for a search warrant after smelling an “overwhelming odor of raw marijuana” coming from the home.

Investigators say 18 marijuana plants, several bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found.

(Radio Iowa) — Four Republicans in the Iowa House are sponsoring legislation to erect they describe as an “abortion victims monument” on the state capitol grounds. “I saw a news article about a similar bill in Tennessee, where they had passed a bill to build such a monument, so I thought that would be a good idea for Iowa, too.” That’s Representative Dean Fisher of Montour.

There’s no spot picked out or even a design for the statue. The bill would leave those decisions to the state agency and the state commission that oversee the capitol grounds in Des Moines.  “I don’t envision something huge,” Fisher said. “Not a huge tower or anything, something a few feet tall.” Fisher emphasizes the bill calls for private funds to be used in designing, constructing and maintaining the monument.

“It will help people to remember and realize the loss that we’ve suffered by aborting thousands upon thousands of babies here in Iowa,” Fisher says. “Those are lives lost that could have been productive members of our society.” The Family Leader, a Christian conservative organization, is the only group registered TODAY in favor of the bill. The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is registered in opposition. Connie Ryan, the group’s executive director, says the bill would set a dangerous precedent. “I don’t understand why somebody would want to use state land to push forward their political agenda,” Ryan says.

There are nearly 50 monuments and memorials on the Iowa Capitol Grounds today.

(Radio Iowa) — Marshalltown police have released more information on a teenager who was found dead after a five-day search. Police Chief Mike Tupper talked about the findings in the death of 13-year old Corey Brown: “When you look at the preliminary autopsy results coupled with the investigation facts that we’ve uncovered — it is clear that Corey Brown died from a significant head injury after he fell from a considerable distance, after climbing onto a communication tower,” according to Tupper.

Police say Brown went over a fence and climbed the tower in a secluded area where his body was found Sunday morning. Brown left his home in the evening on January 22nd — after what was reported as a typical parent-teen dispute. Police are still waiting on results of chemical tests following the autopsy — but say there is no indication of criminal activity.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman charged in the death of her baby left the courtroom sobbing during the first day of her trial when prosecutors showed photos of her lifeless son in a swing set. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris caused a break in her trial Wednesday at the Plymouth County Courthouse in Le Mars.

Cheyanne Harris talks with her attorney during her court appearance on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Le Mars, Iowa. Harris, the mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing wearing a maggot-infested diaper is standing trial in his death. Court records say Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. The trial was moved to Le Mars in Plymouth County from Chickasaw County because of publicity. (Jeff Reinitz/The Courier via AP)

Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She was arrested in August 2017 after medics found 4-month-old Sterling Koehn dead in the swing in a dark, sweltering bedroom.

An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection caused by being left in a maggot-infested diaper for up to two weeks. The boy’s father, Zachary Koehn, already has been sentenced to life in prison .

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two Red Oak men following an investigation into a shop burglary in Red Oak. Deputies were responded to a burglary call at 2227 State Highway 48 at 8:00am on Tuesday, January 29th. It was discovered that someone had entered the business by forcing the shop door open and stole 8 new chainsaws and a battery power backup. The items were valued at $4,000.

Deputies were able to identify 2 male suspects and obtained a search warrant. At approximately 2:00pm 34-year-old Toby McCunn and 50-year-old Rene Valdivia, both of Red Oak, were arrested without incident. A search warrant executed at 310 Park Avenue in Red Oak resulted in the recovery of all 8 chainsaws and the battery backup. McCunn and Valdivia were charged with Burglary 3rd Degree and held on $5,000 cash bond.

When Mike Howard visited the Danish Windmill for the first time, he watched the 15-minute video featuring Harvey Sornson, the local farmer who came up with the crazy idea of bringing the sixty foot Danish Windmill to Elk Horn. Harvey’s comment, “No one said we couldn’t do it…so we did”, made an impression on Howard. As he addressed attendees at the Annual Meeting of the Danish Windmill on January 28, Howard recounted how Harvey’s story had inspired him in his many successful business ventures. At the conclusion of his remarks, Mill manager, Lisa Steen Riggs announced that Mike and Lou Howard had donated $100,000 to the Windmill. The air filled with confetti and champagne corks popped as everyone celebrated the Howards’ generous gift.

Photo attached of Danish Windmill Board members with Mike and Lou Howard: (L-R) Tony Petersen, Vice President, Manager Lisa Steen Riggs, Past President, Jody LaCanne, Shon Andersen, Secretary, Chris Fredericksen, President, Clark Ahrenholz, Director, Andy Anderson, Director, Joni Griffin, Treasurer, Lou Howard and Mike Howard. Not pictured, Tim Andersen. Photo credit: Deb Bieker

“Mike and Lou have been incredible supporters of the Danish Windmill,” said Riggs. “They’ve been so engaged in the Windmill restoration project and rebuilding the cap frame. Recently, one day over lunch, I shared all the capital projects that are still in progress for the coming year and estimated we’d need to raise about $99,000 to complete them.” She continued, “As Harvey Sornson would have said, ‘who would’ve thought’, that Mike and Lou would come to the rescue! We are so grateful for their generosity.” During the Annual Meeting, outgoing President Jody LaCanne was presented a certificate in recognition of his service on the Board. Newly elected Board members and officers include, Chris Fredericksen, President, Tony Petersen, Vice President, Shon Andersen, Secretary, Joni Griffin, Treasurer, and Directors Andy Anderson, Clark Ahrenholz and Tim Andersen.

The Danish Windmill is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit organization. Charitable gifts and donations are the organization’s primary sources of funding. The Mill’s financials are published on the GuideStar® website so potential donors can review public records and non-profit reports. The Mill received the GuideStar® Gold Star of Transparency in 2018. Visit danishwindmill.com to review the 2018 Annual Report. To learn more about the Danish Windmill and how you can support the organization and about the projects, contact the Danish Windmill at 712.764.7472.